Living Zen Podcast

Buddhist Talk

Spontaneous Zen talks given in the Rinzai tradition by Ven. Eshu Martin, abbot of the Victoria Zen Centre in Victoria, BC, Canada. www.zenwest.ca If you enjoy this podcast, rate it,review it, and share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook and face to face. www.zenwest.ca Check out the Living Zen Podcast app on the iTunes app store!

Location:

United States

Genres:

Buddhist Talk

Podcasts

Description:

Spontaneous Zen talks given in the Rinzai tradition by Ven. Eshu Martin, abbot of the Victoria Zen Centre in Victoria, BC, Canada. www.zenwest.ca If you enjoy this podcast, rate it,review it, and share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook and face to face. www.zenwest.ca Check out the Living Zen Podcast app on the iTunes app store!

Twitter:

@zenwest1

Language:

English

Website:

http://livingzen.libsyn.com/

Email:

office@zenwest.ca

Episodes

Letter to Sangha and Supporters - June 2017

6/26/2017

To: Zenwest members, associates, patrons, and donors From: Eshu Osho, Zenwest Board, and members of the Zenwest strategic planning group Dear friends and supporters of Zenwest, In our global community, locally, and within our Sangha, the past 3 years have been filled with change. We are writing to talk with you about the changes we have been discussing over the past eight months as part of the 2017 strategic planning process. Some of you are already familiar with Zenwest’s current model, while for others this is new information. To ensure that everyone has access to the background information to help you understand the history and context for our proposed changes, we have included as an appendix to this letter an overview of the developments in Zenwest that led to the current model, written by Eshu Osho who provides his perspective from 22 years of practicing with Zenwest and 13 years as Abbot. The model that Zenwest has been operating under since 2005 served Zenwest well for many years. Unfortunately, as a result of multiple factors (discussed in detail in the Appendix) we have come to the difficult conclusion that under the current circumstances the strategic model we have been running is not sustainable, and Zenwest needs to make significant changes going forward. Our collective recommendation is that Zenwest undergo a transition over the next 12 months to: (a) gradually phase out financial compensation for Eshu Osho, (b) undertake a review of all aspects of our programming, and (c) engage in deep community discussions to determine how to go forward in revitalizing and renewing our community. These are very significant, serious changes that we are suggesting and we need to know whether the sangha is supportive of this proposed direction. We want to be clear that the recommendation to end Eshu Osho’s employment with Zenwest is in no way a comment on Eshu’s performance as Abbot. Rather it is a reflection that our membership has shrunk (as discussed in the Appendix) and it is no longer financially sustainable to support a paid position. Throughout the extended and at times painful discussions that led to this recommendation, we have held two core principles: First, that we are responsible to treat all of the Zenwest relationships with integrity and care. This includes the relationships between Zenwest and Eshu Osho and the Martin family, between sangha members, and relationships with external bodies such as the University of Victoria Multifaith Services where we have a chaplaincy. Second, we all remain committed to Zen practice and creating spaces for people to practice in community. However, it is unclear at this time what that might look like. We see the need to create space for organizational transformation, where we individually and collectively deeply consider what we want to do, what brings us joy, and how we want to practice. What we are proposing for the next year is a three-phase transition. Phase 1: June-September 2017 Eshu Osho continue to work 0.4 FTE at Zenwest (the current arrangement). All Sunday and Tuesday practice opportunities remain the same. Begin community discussions about the future of Zenwest. Phase 2: October 2017-March 2018 Eliminate cash salary from Eshu Osho’s compensation arrangement. Zenwest will continue to provide a residence and amenities to the Abbot and his family at the temple in Sooke as compensation for Eshu’s continuing work (hours to be negotiated between Eshu and the Zenwest Board). Sunday and Tuesday sits will continue. Continue community discussions about the future of Zenwest. Phase 3: April-June 2018 All compensation will be eliminated from the relationship between Eshu Osho and Zenwest, and Eshu Osho will cease to be an employee of Zenwest Buddhist Society. This is conceptualized as a “pause” to allow our sangha and Eshu to reflect and consider what we want going forward. It is not yet clear what member-led practice opportunities might...

Duration:00:19:58

Gateless Barrier 38 Wuzu: A Buffalo Passes Through the Window - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday May 29, 2016

3/29/2017

The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you did. Please consider purchasing the Living Zen-podcast app on the iTunes app store! www.zenwest.ca If you are interested in getting started in Zen Practice, check out our Online Orientation to Zen Practice Program http://www.zenwest.ca/online-zen/84-online-orientation-to-zen

Duration:00:39:35

Exhortation on Form and Gateless Barrier 37 Wuzu: Zhaozhou: The Oak Tree in the Courtyard - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday May 15, 2016

3/22/2017

Duration:00:50:07

What Happens When We Engage in Zen - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Tuesday May 10, 2016

3/17/2017

Duration:00:28:20

Practice and our Sangha - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday May 1, 2016

3/12/2017

Duration:00:40:36

Q&R Butsudan and Dharma Names - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Tuesday April 19, 2016

3/7/2017

Duration:00:15:06

Gateless Barrier 36 Wuzu: Meeting Someone Accomplished in the Tao - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday April 17, 2016

3/2/2017

Duration:00:48:39

Chobo-ji Sesshin Gateless Barrier 5: Xiangyan's Up in a Tree - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Wednesday March 23, 2016

11/23/2016

Duration:00:50:26

Practice and Family Relations - Rev. Soshin McMurchy - Tuesday March 15, 2015

11/17/2016

Duration:00:18:36

Gateless Barrier 35 Wuzu: Which is the True Qian - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday March 13, 2016

11/12/2016

Duration:00:50:09

Giving and Zen Practice - Rev. Doshu Rogers - Tuesday March 8, 2016

11/7/2016

Duration:00:15:25

Zenwest: An Abbot's Tale - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday March 6, 2016

11/2/2016

Duration:00:46:37

Charnel Ground Practice - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Tuesday March 1, 2016

10/28/2016

Duration:00:14:57

Gateless Barrier 34 Nanchuan: Wisdom is not the Tao - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday February 28, 2016

10/23/2016

Duration:00:53:39

Just This Way! - Rev. Doshu Rogers - Tuesday February 23, 2016

10/18/2016

Duration:00:16:39

Gateless Barrier 33 Mazu: Not Mind, Not Buddha - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday February 21, 2016

10/13/2016

Duration:00:46:16

Gateless Barrier 32: A Guest Questions the Buddha - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday February 14, 2016

10/8/2016

Duration:00:49:06

Shunyata (Emptiness) - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Tuesday February 2, 2015

10/3/2016

Duration:00:26:11

Gateless Barrier 31: Zhaozhou Investigates the Old Woman - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday January 31, 2016

9/28/2016

Duration:00:42:41

Gateless Barrier 30 Mazu: Mind is Buddha - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday January 24, 2016

9/23/2016

Duration:00:55:19